Two Chatham deputies fired, charged after off-duty shooting

Two Chatham County deputies and a Siler City police officer have lost their jobs after an off-duty shooting last month, authorities said Tuesday.

Pittsboro police officers and Chatham County deputies responded to a report of shots fired on West Salisbury Street in Pittsboro at about 10 p.m. April 11 and found Alexis Bonilla, Greg Barrett and a third man in a nearby parking lot, authorities said.

Bonilla and Barrett were off-duty deputies, and the third man, whose name hasn't been released was a sergeant with the Siler City Police Department and also was off duty, authorities said.

Police found evidence "to suggest that at least one of the subjects was responsible for the shots fired," and multiple personally-owned guns were found at the scene, authorities said in a statement. But all three men were intoxicated and refused to answer questions, authorities said.

Sheriff Mike Roberson ordered an internal investigation and, three days later, fired Bonilla and Barrett, citing dishonesty and violations of department policy.

Bonilla, 24, of Siler City, was subsequently charged with discharging a firearm within town limits, carrying a concealed gun after consuming alcohol and aiding in an underage purchase of alcohol. Barrett, 27, of Robbins, was charged with carrying a concealed gun after consuming alcohol.

“As law enforcement, we must be good stewards of public trust,” Roberson said in a statement. "Dishonesty or criminal behavior will not be tolerated within the ranks of the sheriff’s office.

“Thankfully, no one was injured during this incident and no property was damaged as a result of the discharge,” he added.

The Siler City police sergeant also was terminated, but no charges were filed against him, authorities said.